Hydraulic brake bleeder system



H. T. SEAWELL HYDRAULIC BRAKE BLEEDER SYSTEM Filed March 2, 1948 29/ HMmmm v/ X/ X'/ //`/////./'//`/Y/ as) I7 48/275 so) 126% mfgNmK 35 HARRY7.' SEAWELL ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 oFFIcE RAULIC BRAKE BLVEEDERSYSTEM Harry T. seaweu, Baltimore, Ma.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the control of brakes for vehicles and moreparticularly to apparatus connected with the system for hydraulicallyVoperating the brakes, especially those used on mtor vehicles. Y Y

Vlhile there have been systemsdeveloped that serve to remove air bubblesfrom the liquid used for operating the hydraulic mechanism, forcontrolling the movement of the brakes of a vehicle, they have usuallythe disadvantage of requiring a certain amount of dismantling that isinconvenient and more or less dirty work. In addition the operation usedfor relieving the air takes time and a certain amount of mechanicalskill. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a piece ofequipment insertable in the system asa part of the hydraulic mechanism,that may be operated by the swing ofa handle or other simplemanipulation; and in doing so provide a passage for the elective`reinoval of any air bound in the system. It is also an object of theinvention to provide a new and improved device for use in ahydraulically op,- erateol brake system that will avoid oneV or more ofthe disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Vandimproved system for disengaging or diverting the liquid of a hydraulicbraking system, so it cannot operate the brakes temporarily, at the willof the user, and thereby serve as a deterrent to the unauthorized use ofthe vehicle on which the system is mounted.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic .brakingsystem that will be self- -balancing and cleaning. .i w

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fullydescribed.

For a clearer comprehensionof the invention, its objects and theprinciples thereof, reference is made to the appended drawing. Thisdrawing in conjunction with the following description, detailing theparticular form of the invention shown, illustrates the features and themanner in which it may be used, while the scope of the invention isemphasized in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a diagrammatic outline of a hydraulic system embodying thisinvention; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail shown in section with parts broken awayto disclose the internal construction of a controller unit used in thisinvention.

Similar reference characters pertain to the same parts throughout thedrawing.

A simenon March 2, 194s,`seria1N0. 12,547 v (c1. fio-54.5)

In `the particular construction shown in the drawing, a controller unitconsists of a housing VIll which is partitioned to include a reservoirchamber II for the brake liquid I8; I'an enclosure I2 'for a two-waystop cock plug I3 with passages Ill and I5 leading therefrom, andlA'cyl-1 inder I6 fora piston Il to reciprocate in.- VThe chamber II hasa circular oriceV I9 with a cap 20 screwed on itand provided with aspring and ball vent 2| in its top or uppermost portion. The cylinder I6has a'iiller port 22 and compensating port 23 connecting it with theinterior of the chamber II. The ports are spaced from each other butpreferably in line and are lo-4 cated so as to 4be on either side of thepiston `I'I when the latter is normally disposed in the cylinder. Theseports allow the brake liquid I B ,to flow into the cylinder insuitable*= sequence. The cylinder I6 has an outlet 24 in one end inwhich a check valve 25 is mounted andkept normally closed by a spring2li.` The piston'V is of a quasi-dumbbell form with the end portions2'land 28 respectively arranged so the end por;

tion 21 will engage a coil 'spring 3l! tendingto keep the piston awayfrom the valve 25; and the portion28 inengagement 'with the rod 29 of abrake mechanism 3l. Bleeders 48 .are positioned in end portion 2l. vThepassage I5 leads off from the. outlet 24 so as to align withtheright-angle passage 32 in the plug I3 when the latter is turnedtobraking position. The passage I4 has a strainer, 33 in it, to collectparticles of dirt. A port 34 is included `in the wall .of the enclosureI2 leading from the exterior to the housing. drainfvalve 35is includedlin a suitable location for draining vthe system. The 'system includesfourjsimilargcylinders 36 ymounted on the-rear wheels and front wheelslin the areas noted'A and B respectively. These areas are dotted in anarbitrary manner to make reference to them easier to follow. Thesecylinders 36 are provided with opposed pistons 31 acting on the brakelevers 38 in opposite directions. The cylinders include an inlet port 39and outlet port 4I] through which the liquid I8 flows duringthe use ofthe system.

The-braking system used in this invention employs tubing that connectsto the controller unit and the cylinders, through the sectionsdesignated as 4I, 42, 43, 44 and 45. The brake liquid ows through thetubing to operate the various parts of the brake mechanism in one case,and in a second case passes continuously in a specied direction` tocarry the air bubbles through the system until they are brought to the 3chamber to be vented through the air valve 2|. To facilitate this actionthe inlets 39 are below the outlets 49. This arrangement allows the airbubbles to rise from the inlet and pass out through the outlet in turn.

There are two operations used in the system, depending on therequirements. For general braking, the plug I3 of the stop cock isplaced with the passage l5 registered with passage 32, and port 34. Whenthe brake mechanism 3| is vactuated by the user so the piston is pushedagainst the resistance of the spring 3U it forces the liquid |8 throughthe outlet 24 into the section of tubing 4|, while at the same time,forcing liquid bypassed through the stop cock I3 as shown in dottedoutline in Figure 1, into the section 42. The liquid passes through thesections 4|, 43 and 45 and meets the liquid flowing from section 42, and44 into 45. The liquid operates theY brakes in area A and area Brespectively and by reason of the. section 45 balances up itsV pressureon all the brake cylinders 36- In the other use of the system, the stopcock plug is rotated until its passage 32 is registered with the passage|4. The ow of the liquid under the movements of the pedal mechanism 3|to eliminate air bubbles is continuous in one direction, as noted bydotted arrows in Figure 1, so that sooner or later any air bubbles thatmay be in the system are brought around to the chamber and ventedthrough 2 When the last arrangement is used little or no pressure isexerted to operate the brake mechanism, so that if the vehicle is usedunauthorizedly without changing the position of the stop cock, thevehicle will be without brakes operating. The filler port 22,compensating port 23, the valve 25 and pedal mechanism operate inconventional manner, and do not appear to require further explanation,to those skilled in the art.

The system is relatively simple, andV oiers a balanced braking ysystemso that the pressure on all brakes is the same. There is more coolingarea provided by the tubing to keep the brake liquid cooled even undersevere braking'action. Air bubbles can be positively land quicklyremoved out of the system. The controller unit is a neat effectivedevice for making the system operate. Its simple operation of shiftingfrom braking, to air bleeding through shifting the handle 50 from oneuse to another avoids inconvenient handling of the system or its parts.It provides a device that is readily inspected, checked or repaired andfor general operation is automatic in its action. It is self cleaningand with its raised orice I9 can take up the requirements brought aboutby heating or expansion of the liquid. Since however the liquid is keptunusually cool, there is not much difculty experienced through suchexpansion.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specications, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for patent to this particular form or in any other wayotherwise than limited by the scope of the claims, as it is appreciatedthat other forms of construction could be made that would use the sameprinciples and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic braking system comprising a plurality of brake-applyingmotors, a housing including a reservoir chamber for braking uid and amaster cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connectedthereto and pedal mechanism connected to said piston rod, passagesconnecting said master cylinder and brakeapplying motors serially, amanually operated valve in said housing, said housing and valve havingpassages to connect said reservoir chamber to the last of the seriallyarranged brakeapplying motor when said valve is in one position and toconnect said brake-applying motor to said master cylinder when saidvalve is in another position.

2. A hydraulic braking system as set forth in claim l, said housinghaving a Valve-controlled outlet at the highest level thereof, wherebyair entrained in the system will be released through said outlet whensaid valve is in the iirst of said aforementioned positions.

3. A hydraulic braking system as set forth in claim 1, said housing andsaid cylinder having a port in common, controlled by said piston,whereby ilow of the braking iiuid from the reservoir chamber into saidcylinder will occur during a portion of the stroke of said piston andthereafter will be cut oi during the remaining of the stroke.

HARRY T. SEAWELL.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,985,812 Banas Dec. 25, 1934FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 695,582 Germany Aug. 28, 1940

